PPF & Vinyl; Same thing but (a lot) different.

If you are in the habit of frequenting car forums (Tintdude anyone?), you have no doubt come across the term car wrap more than once. The most common “wraps” include vinyl and paint protection films, but how exactly are they different from one another?

For one, the functions of the two films are completely different. The purpose of vinyl wrap is purely cosmetic; they are designed as a way of temporarily changing the color of your car without damaging the OEM (original manufacturer) paint work. These films are relative thin at around 4-5 mil (0.1-0.12mm), and they don’t really offer much in terms of protection against scratches and rock chips. If a car parked too close to you, for example, and the passengers inside opened their car door with just a bit too much force, slamming it right into yours, the impact will most likely cut straight through the film and leave a scratch or chip on your car door.

Paint protection films on the other hand, are meant to be more practical than pretty. Most film manufacturers and brands offer 2 main PPF options; glossy and matte. These transparent films are not meant to drastically change the car’s appearance. What they do excel in though, is paint protection.

Paint protection films average a thickness of around 8 mil (0.2mm), a whopping double of your average vinyl wrap. The TPU material used in the manufacturing of these films also play a huge part in optimizing their protective function. A majority of these films now come with a self-healing function, which means that if you find yourself in the “close car,